A team of international scientists have discovered lately the fossils of three new species of toothed pterosaurs in the South-eastern Morocco 100 million years ago.
These flying reptiles, which lived in the Moroccan Saharan region, roamed the skies with a wingspan of around four meters and would prey on fish using large spike-like teeth on their beaks, say the experts.
The discovery has been made by paleontologist Professor David Martill from UK Portsmouth University along with U.S. researchers Megan Jacobs from Baylor University (Texas) & Nizar Ibrahim from Detroit Mercy University and Moroccan paleontologist Professor Samir Zouhri.
The pterosaurs were part of an ancient river ecosystem which included fish, crocodiles, turtles and several predatory dinosaurs. The fossilized remains of the creature were published in the Cretaceous Research Journal.
The newly discovered pterosaur has been named “Afrotapejara zouhrii” to honor the Moroccan paleontologist Prof. Samir Zouhri, who has contributed to several discoveries of prehistoric reptiles in Morocco, including dinosaurs and pterosaurs.
According to U.S. Palaeontologist Nizar Ibrahim, prof.Samir Zouhri has played an important role in the development of Moroccan palaeontology through his publications, scientific conferences and published scientific works on vertebrate palaeontology in Morocco.